Performance Management Tools and Scorecards
The annual HUD Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) competition highlights the need for community leaders to ensure that available funds are allocated to high performing providers for the services that will have the most impact.
The Performance Management Tools within the HomelessData.com data warehouse perform a similar function as HUD’s Excel-based CoC Project Rating and Ranking Tool created to support the annual NOFA “rating and ranking” process. Unlike the Excel tool, the HomelessData.com warehouse automates the creation of the Performance Evaluation Scorecards through integrations with Grant Inventory Worksheets and the automatic generation of all of the Annual Performance Reports (APRs) from which outcome results are pulled. This automation is a critical step forward as it enables community leaders to implement a practice of ongoing performance management.
Unlike annual performance monitoring, issues can be identified and addressed early on, high-performers can be recognized and their practices can be emulated, and resources can be reallocated as needed. Grantees are also provided full transparency throughout the year on their performance and can make adjustments as needed to perform better.
This ongoing feedback loop is a critical component for any region that seeks to become a high-performing community. By managing performance (versus simply monitoring it) the region will be better positioned to reduce the extent of homelessness, minimize the time that people experience homelessness, and keep people housed.